Lentulus, I know Cæsar is greater than I!"
Before he could continue, Labienus had risen to his feet in the council.
"An oath! an oath, gentlemen!" cried the renegade legate. "Swear all after me! 'By Jupiter Capitolinus, Optimus, Maximus, I swear not to return from the battle until victorious over Cæsar!'"
All the council rose.
"We swear!" cried a score of tongues, as though their oath was the lightest thing imaginable.
"Bravely done!" shouted Labienus, while the two Lentuli and Domitius and Scipio and many another scion of the great noble houses joined in the oath. "Hem! Most excellent Magnus, you do not have confidence enough in your own cause to join us. Do you doubt our loyalty or soldierly qualities!"
"Perpol!" replied Pompeius, with a rather ill-concealed effort to speak gayly, "do you think, good Labienus, that I am as distrustful of you as Cæsar ought to be of his men?"
And the Magnus also took the oath.
Outside the tent the sentries were exchanging their challenges. It was the end of the second watch of the night.[178]
"It is late, gentlemen," said Pompeius. "I believe that I have given my orders. Remember our watch word for to-morrow."